San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-03-22
SEEN IN SOCIETY.
A Correspondent Makes Some Pertinent
Observations on Society Evils.

A few days ago local contemporary,
| in an article published In It's columns,
reported a social event as being zen
tirely recherche" and attended by the
very "top Of society,"" The same paper
has OF late earned quite a reputation In
the line OF irony and sarcasm. and 1t
may be that the article referred to was
| intended to be taken In that strain.
The same character OF social gather
ings have from time to time been re-
| ported rs being OF the "eliIe, elitee,"
''exclusive," ''lum- tum," etc, 10 the Oft
repeated amusement and editiCation OF
the lOUker-On and the social outcast
that gaZed from a distant altitude into
the inner circle, whose sacred portals he
WAS not permitted TO pass. The word
amusement Is used his being appropriate,
| for it 10 amusing to See cited rs "exciu-
sIve," "IoO-too," ETC., gatherings where
| figured young bucks whose habits and
OUTSIDE associations better lifted them
| Iur social uutiawry than To be counted
Ms component paris OF All entirely TO he
| designated as Of the top toppy" In the
| social ladder. Ii Is not nj all secret
that San Antonio has from time 10 time
been Infested by II herd Ut Imported and
| iDpecuuiUus youths, whose highest as-
| piratious ST., III TO he 10 be- styled dudes.
These enigmas Of doubtful an
| tec.dents anu still more Of doubt
| ful morality, fit across the horl-
Zun OF san Antonio society like n
comet on the midnight shy. For II
whie they carry WIN them trail Of
| radiant brIllIancy, then fade away and
| disappear, ieaviug behind .ong list of
| unpau b lie. anu unpleasant rebln s.
| rehces Tor hose Who TOOK them ~ ANA
| Nuucbed for ,Len ami pronounced N III
very, very nice" o. the books III u
| large III nDtr II irau. sInen and o'hrrs III
| this city, viii etili be found, wIIh large
| unsettled balances against them, Inc
nalnts vi many uf these phI siuul phe-
| uuInena, who bale from iIme 10 Time
| figured 10 the sacred cir les OF what
sune UPSTAIRS have been pleased 10
term, social tXclusiveness." Looking
over list some lime ago, Oi Inc ellie
who we're preseut al one VI these lsh-de-
dab AFFAIR.", IL was n little surprising 10
see, coupled Ia pairs. the naInrs ui some
uf our musI modest and refined young
| IaIies, with those OF certain society
Youths Who go about reeking with the
tout o,iOrs OF Dar-r"ops, gambling halls.
or houses of prostitution. Exclusive"
society men, VINO borrow party clothes
from hoLel porters. very utter and
charming youths, who carry ladies 10
GERMAN" In hacks, and climb out OF
the back window TO shITk payment for
them A. noted IN a former issue OF TINS
paper, whisky straight" was the bever-
aye called Tor and swallowed, by one Of
he upper ten leaders OF 'Germans,' as
he sat by the side of his fair partner, at
every swell" affair the other evening.
Weavoid personalities; let those whom
the shoes fit wear them, but we ask In
all good faith and honesty, are youths
that dance and hOb-nob with the frail
maidens at bawdy houses, that squander
their income over the gambling tables,
faro banks, surrounded by associates of
the most depraved character, that spend
the Utl-nights, when there is no ger
man" TO lead, or lady TO escort to the
opera. In wild riot among the houses OF
prostitution, We say are such youths
suitable companions for modest and re-
spectacle young women, simply because
they have acquired the regulation claw
hammer coat. or are such pretty danCerrI
History repeats itself almost daily all
over our country in the ruin and des-
truction of girls and women by "charm-
ing men," and blighted lives cry Out ne-
ware! Are the mothers and fathers OF
this dear old city blind TO the evil in
fiuence that springs from the contact OF
their sons and daughters with these i'm
ported and hOme-bred wolves IN sheep
clothing? Is character at a discount
and responsibility and morality not to
be weighed IN the balance against dis
reputable and vicious practices? Boys
and girls growing up suOcumb rapidly
TO the influence of impure surroundings.
and the old adage, Evil communica-
tions corrupt good manners" Is
still as true as it is old. Once
we Saw right among the names Of some
of San AntoniO's fairPst daughters that
of young would. be blood, who had for
years publicly maintained 4 negro mis-
Iress. Perhaps he had broken of this
unholy alliance, Dut we hold. that II
would take Years OF chaste living, and
something more than the acquisition of a
sWallOG-taIl, 10 qualify him 10 be fit
associate tor reputable girls and wo-
men.
Recently in the opera house. Ser
man" dancing bOOr Sat nearly the whole
evening beside well. known young
lady. chewing toOth-pick; did he know
no better? Did not the young woman
Realize that sne was purchasing an
evenings pleasure at the expense Of ad-
we're criticism at the bands of people.
who by birth and education know and
understand the prophecies OF life
ana the respect due 10 II lady. Some
line since, another youth Of the eXClu
slye circle, who daily drove reputable
young women about our streets. behind
| II sly li>h horse that was never paid for.
| In pa bic btr-ruOm, In the presence of
II motley crowd. boast rully declared: Il
can sleep In the bat cave tonight and
lead n g rnan tomorrow night " and at
the same time Yer fed mis- intimate rela-
lions with some Of our society girls, by
| producing IL tiers from them and asking
The boys" to read them.
Tie theme is an endless one, we have
no desire to injure the innocent, or i'm.
| pede any IN their Efforts at reformation.
| II there be dOubters among our readers,
| If there be fathers or mothers who say
the picture Is overdrRwn, let them
90 O Ietly out some evening when there
Is not gathering of the ''entirely
recherche" and see where the charming
fellows-we will say, some OF The charm.
ing fellows, spend their of nights.
Are these subjects worthy Of consid-
Grafton at the hands of the parents oil
our sons and daughters? We think SO.
In large CRY of The north 1t has recent.
ly become necessary for society 10
stamp with rigid taboo, those festive
youths who alternately moved among re.
spectacle people and trequented the
most dlsreputable places; that were
charming dancers and brummels In
their attire, and yet slaves to he most
debssing vices. Some day, such q stand
will have to be taken here. Why d -fer
il? Ii is not difficult to sift the chat
from the wheat, In our social granary